You'll see some of these stories pulled from around the country on what teams are doing for (or to) their fans, and wonder why. Simply, making you more aware of what's going on elsewhere, because in the copycat world of sports and marketing, what's done in one stadium or league successfully most likely will be picked up quickly elsewhere.

Thus, the initiative behind this story, picked up by Thursday's Sports Business Daily. The Miami Dolphins have partnered with Kangaroo Media to provide "hand-held devices to premium-seat holders" at Land Shark Stadium next season, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The Dolphins will give the wireless device, Dolphins Mobile Vision, to season-ticket holders in club seats and suites "with no additional charge," and fans will be allowed to "keep it the entire season."

The Dolphins said that the device has a "10-channel capacity, and fans can decide individually what to place on each channel." The feed will offer "any of 11 or so TV camera angles showing the Dolphins game, live coverage of other games through NFL Sunday Ticket, and views from other cameras" at the stadium.

The device, which will be provided for approximately "every two seats" in the applicable sections, also will offer stats, "fantasy team alerts, video on demand and text-message boards, and the ability to order concessions." Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said that Mobile Vision -- "featuring a screen that's 4.3 inches diagonally -- will not be available in non-premium seating areas because Kangaroo Media could manufacture no more than 5,000 for next season."

Land Shark Stadium "will be the only NFL facility offering the service in 2009, but it will not be available" for Univ. of Miami or Marlins games. Meanwhile, Ross yesterday confirmed that there "have been discussions about adding" a Joe's Stone Crab restaurant to the stadium, "but it's not definite."

Ross also noted that general ticket sales are "'ahead of schedule' but the sale of the 10,000 club seats and suites 'are a little slower than I would expect.'" Ross confirmed that the stadium "likely will be re-named Dolphin Stadium for next season's Pro Bowl and Super Bowl and doubts he will have a longterm naming rights deal in place by then."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that the stadium "cannot be called LandShark Stadium during those events because of NFL rules regarding short-term naming-rights deals."

that prompted writers Sarah Talalay and Ethan J. Skolnick of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel to wonder about the primary goal of the new owner in a piece entitled "Is Dolphins Owner Ross Overshadowing Game With In-Stadium Bells And Whistles?"

As Ross unveils "more innovations" in the stadium, the "question becomes whether some moves will blur the line between winning football games and providing peripheral entertainment." Ross has said that the team will have "even more announcements in the next month," but promised that "none of the changes will 'interrupt what is going on the field.'"

Colts Owner Jim Irsay said that "having both components is important." Irsay: "What I believe in, and I told Stephen this, is you want to get the gasoline on the embers so when you do win, that it really is a compounding factor for the good for your brand and your fan experience."

Giants President & CEO John Mara: "I think there is a line. I think we always have to be conscious of the fact that they are really coming to see the game. You want to make sure that you are creating a pleasant and exciting game day experience to the fans. ... Bottom line, no matter what you're doing, if you're not winning, they're not going to want to come back."

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